Issue 1 – Saturday, April 2, 2011 • An Offi cial Publication of the Canadian Curling Association. Rock stars! Canada’s Jeff Stoughton, left, and World’s top stone Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud are slingers descend ready to on Brandt Centre rumble. ■ Long road back Page 3 ■ Picks and pans Page 4 ■ Bison Boys rollin’ Page 6 ■ Meet the teams Page 17 Sponsor of the day 1-877-985-CURL OR IN PERSON AT THE ENMAX CENTRIUM BOX OFFICE OR ORDER ONLINE AT Page 2 2011 Ford World Mens – Eye Opener Proud Sponsor of the 2011 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship www.richardson.ca FROM Theres no accounting for taste, right? From left, Norways Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergaard, Christoffer Svae, and Haavard Vad Petersson OUR HOUSE model their latest below-the-belt fashions. The team promises to unveil another set of trousers TO YOURS later in the week. Supporting farmers and their communities It’s better at Bennett O!cial Vehicle Supplier of the 2011 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship SaskEnergy is proud to champion the volunteers at the 2011 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship. 770 Broad Street, Regina 306.522.6612 bennettdunlopford.com Saturday, April 2 Page 3 WhollWholl reignreign inin Regina?Regina? For Jeff Stoughton, its been a long road back to the world stage fth in 2010; sixth in the good things will happen. 2001 Olympic trials, second Thats what we always say. in the 2005 trials and third And thats what we did all in the 2009 trials. week. But this year? Its been a long time We just felt this was our since 1999. But its great time, that we were going knowing we put a lot of time Jeff Stoughton, after winning the Brier in London, Ont., is back at the FWMCC for the first time since 1999. to win this thing, said the and work and effort into 47-year-old Stoughton, this. We knew this could be Larry Wood opportunity to wear the red to be fun. We know Re- been trying. Stoughton-di- a nancial systems man- our last chance here, and we Eye Opener Editor and white shirts with the ginas a great curling town. rected teams nished fourth ager with Air Canada, in took full advantage of it. maple leaf stitched on the Were going to enjoy every at the 2000 Brier, sixth at the wake of his teams nal The Bison Boys certainly backs. moment. the 2006 renewal, third in Brier win over perennial did. t was a long, arduous, That is something Stoughton and his team of 2007, second in 2009 and bridesmaid Glenn Howard They nished with 11 even tortuous trail . special! he exclaimed. It Jonathan Mead, Reid Car- of Coldwater, Ont. wins in 13 starts and rav- Iand consistently uphill cant get any better than to ruthers and Steve Gould will The last time I felt this aged Ontario with a 96-per- all the way. put that Maple Leaf on your playing the role of heavy comfortable (during an cent team shooting percent- The old champ from Man- back. home favourite, carrying a event) would have been the age that was a Brier record itoba hadnt made it to the Representing your coun- 19-3 won-lost record, 1-for- 2005 (Olympic) trials, he for a championship nal. Ford world mens curling try is something you dream 2 in terms of Worlds appear- said. We were going on all All of which may be total- championship since 1999 of as a curler. It has been 12 ances, in todays opener at 12 cylinders there. That was ly super uous heading into . but hed been climbing years and were so looking the Brandt Centre after a a while ago but this feels . the Worlds and opposition back, ever-so determinedly, forward to it. Just a great, lengthy absence. awesome, I tell yuh. offering an entirely different ever since . clawing and great feeling. Stoughton directed Ken Theres nothing better set of avours relative to the scratching over boulders Even though the world Tresoor, Gary VanDenBerge than this feeling right now. Tim Hortons Brier. and ice and other wintry championship will be a and Gould to the 1996 Ive been saying right from Its different, he says. obstacles of all shapes and mere ve-hour drive from world crown at Hamilton, the get-go this is what we Youre out there playing sizes. home? defeating Warwick Smith of were here for and we did it! guys speaking different It was a long, hard ride, as Who cares? Stoughton Scotland in the nal. Three The teams secret this time languages and you have no they say. snorted. Its the Worlds, years later, at Saint John, around? idea how theyre approach- And the payoff arrived man! Put the Maple Leaf on N.B., Stoughton, Mead, We played good, he ing the same game. Its sort last month at the John our back. Were just going VanDenBerge and Doug Thomas Dufour has said. We made a lot of of cool. Labatt Centre in London, to rock out to Regina. Its Armstrong lost the world skipped France at two shots. I mean, thats all it Ont., when 47-year-old Jeff going to be awesome. I hope nal to Hammy McMillan Olympic Games, and takes is a simple game. Stoughton of Winnipeg won a few Winnipeggers will be of Scotland. represented the country Throw the rock at the broom Please see REIGN, his third Brier title and the taking that drive. Its going Since then, times have at six worlds. with the right weight and Page 15 Page 4 2011 Ford World Mens – Eye Opener Jeff Stoughtons Brier champs look good to repeat their 1996 success on the world stage. picks n pans The Eye Opener makes its fearless FWMCC predictions Playoff bound . Dont overlook . CANADA U.S.A. SWITZERLAND GERMANY Team Stoughton Pete Fenson is the most Christof Schwaller Andy Kapp has nished Charleswood Curling Club, Winnipeg consistently successful knocked off Randy Fer- everywhere from No. 2 Skip: Jeff Stoughton; Third: Jonathan Mead; Second: Reid Carruthers; Lead: Steve mens skip from Yankland bey in the semis 10 years to No. 10 and hes play- Gould in years. And the Bemidji ago, won an Olympic ing in his 13th Worlds. The skinny: Stoughton is one of Canadas sly old skipping foxes who wont be fazed pizza pedlar has aver- bronze in 2002, but has The tipoff on how hell by the different pressures presented by international competition. He prefers a simple aged close to eight wins been up and down the nish will be evident game relative to some of his Canadian peers but he plays it better than most. And he per visit during his last lineup since, playing third early on. His Bavarians has the top third in the country supporting him. Won this event 15 years ago, was runner- three WMCCs. This a year ago at Cortina and need to get out of the up 12 years ago. group could easily step racked up a 5-6 record. gate fast and get on a up and knock somebody The Swiss will be close at roll. Knows most of the out of the top four, even the nish, this time. opposition like the back NORWAY challenge for the bronze of his hand. Team Ulsrud medal it won at the 2006 Snaroen Curling Club, Oslo Olympics. Skip: Thomas Ulsrud; Third: Torger Nergaard; Second: Christoffer Svae; Lead: Havard Vad Petersson The skinny: Ulsrud missed last years competition due to illness in the family but all third Ner- gaard did was skip the team to 11 wins and runner-up status. Intact for six seasons, Ulsrud- skipped units have won silver at the Vancouver Olympics and three bronze medals in WMCC Spoilers at best company. The team has missed the top-three once in the last ve years. FRANCE DENMARK Thomas Dufour showed a lot of prom- Tommy Stjerne rst appeared at the SWEDEN ise in 2007 and 2008 but his team Worlds in 1977. Thats a whopping 34 Team Edin hasnt melded together since then. years ago! These Danish Delights are Karlstads Curling Club, Karlstad Dufour still mans the teehead but Tony too long in the tooth for the long haul, but Skip: Niklas Edin; Third: Sebastian Kraupp; Second: Frederik Lindberg; Lead: Viktor Angiboust is throwing the last rocks they might knock off one the favourites. Kjell for the rst time. A trend reversal is Question is . who? The skinny: Observers suspect former world junior champion Edin is ready to burst forth required here. and reap a harvest any time now. A hunch bet here: the team has made noises the past couple of seasons, played at the last Continental Cup and has three-time world champion Peja Lindholm aboard as coach and mentor which is worth at least one rock per end. Enjoy the visit SCOTLAND CZECH CHINA KOREA Team Brewster REPUBLIC Whatever became Dong Kuen Lee is Curl Aberdeen, Aberdeen Jiri Snitil has amassed of Fengchun Wang? back after an eight- Skip: Tom Brewster; Third: Greg Drummond; Second: Scott Andrews; Lead: Michael a 5-17 record in two Luan Chens young year absence. He beat Goodfellow previous appearances at team present a totally Denmark in 2003 at The skinny: Its taken Brewster, another former world junior champion, a long time to the Worlds. Not bad for unknown quantity with Winnipeg, but nobody reach this level but the promise always has been there. Won eight straight at the Scottish relatives rookies but a absolutely no previous else. Will be in tough Brier but had to sneak through the back door to qualify for, and then win, the nal.